Some Questions about the Prayer
Worship
Question asked by .
Answered by Dr. Shehzad Saleem
Question:

Q 1: Is the hearing of Adhān a condition for saying our prayer? If for some reason one says his prayer at home? Should one wait for the sound of Adhān or one can say his prayer based on the timings he can find in the prayer calendar available from market?

 

Q 2: In case of the Jum`ah Prayer, offering two fard rak`ats complete our prayer or saying two or four nafal rak`ats in addition are also obligatory?

 

Q 3: How much distance should one keep while passing in front of a person saying his prayer? In many cases we finish our prayer early but people behind us still have to complete theirs. If they are not interrupted, can we proceed?

 

Q 5: Owing to some illness or a similar situation, can one say the Qasr prayer?

 

Q 6: What kind of clothes or general appearance are desirable while saying our prayer. The other day my brother was saying his prayer while wearing only a vest and a shalwār. Since he is usually in this dress while at home in summer, is it permissible?

 

Q 7: If someone's wudū breaks while saying a congregational prayer, what should one do?

 

Q 8: What are the things which nullifies one's prayer?.

 

Q 9: If one joins a congregational prayer some time late and the front row is full and the next row in which he has to stand is empty, can one continue or should he pat at back of someone in front row to join him in the rear one.

 

Q 10: What is the right way of offering the sajdah-i-sahaw (sajdah of mistake): Offering two sajdahs before salaam or before darūd? What if one commits a mistake while saying a prayer in congregation?

 

Q 11: What is the right way of indicating to the Imam that he has committed a mistake in prayer.



Answer:

A 1: Hearing the sound of the Adhān is not a condition for saying the prayer. The prayer calendar can be consulted for prayer timings and once the time for a particular prayer begins you can offer it.

The purpose of the Adhān is just to signal the time of congregational prayers in a mosque.

 

A 2: The obligatory part of the Jum'ah prayer is only the khutbah (given after the second A^dhān) and the two fard rak`ats. The rest is all optional.

 

A 3: The point on the praying surface at which a person offers sajdah is the limit beyond which one should not pass. This distance is normally equal to the width of a saff (row). Passing at a distance greater than this is allowed. However, it should be done only if there is no other alternative since this might distract people who are praying.

 

A 4: The Prophet (sws) has allowed Muslims for whom it is difficult to get up at night and say the Tahajjud prayer to say it with the Ishā prayer. The three witrs Muslims generally offer in their Ishā prayer is actually the Tahajjud prayer.

It should be kept in mind that the Ishā prayer said by the Prophet (sws) throughout his life consisted of four obligatory and two optional rak`ats only.

 

A 5: Qasr prayer is only allowed during travel. If a person is sick or unwell he should say his prayer in whatever form possible (sitting, lying down, or even by mere gestures).

 

A 6: The clothes a person generally regards as decent are the ones in which he should say his prayer. Therefore, it is up to your brother to decide in this regard.

 

A 7: He should came out of the congregation and rejoin it after doing wudū. If it is not possible owing to some reason, he should sit at his place and wait till the prayer is finished.

 

A 8: The only thing stated in the Sharī`ah which nullifies the prayer is the breaking of one’s wudū.

 

A 9: He should motion to a person of the front row to join him.

 

A 10: Both ways are correct.

In congregational prayers, a mistake done by any of the followers does not require any sajdah-i-sahaw. Only if the imam commits a mistake should all the followers offer sajdah-i-sahaw in the leadership of the imam.

 

A 11: Women should pat their knees and men should say subhānallāh.

   
 
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